Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) rebuked reporters on Capitol Hill who were trying to ask whether her dismal fundraising numbers are an indication she doesn't plan to run for re-election, CNN reported on Wednesday.
The Arizona senator, who abandoned the Democratic Party after a couple years of friction between herself and party activists frustrated at her refusal to endorse Senate rule reforms and her obstruction of various Democratic tax policies, has been on the receiving end of intense speculation as to whether she will bow out of the race, or stay in and create a three-way Senate election.
"Sinema’s campaign reported about $595,000 in receipts in the last quarter of 2023, down from $826,000 from the previous quarter. The fundraising level suggests that Sinema has yet to train her attention to a potential reelection bid," reported Manu Raju and Ted Barrett. "She still has a sizable $10.6 million in cash on hand, but running in a competitive three-way race would require Sinema to substantially ramp up her fundraising."
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For the time being, Sinema has not said whether she plans to run again, claiming that she wants to stick to brokering the border security and foreign aid package being considered in the Senate, but she has a deadline of April to file.
"Sinema chastised CNN Wednesday for asking if she plans to run for reelection during a gaggle with reporters while she was talking about details of the border security legislation," said the report. "'Why are you wasting your question on that,' she responded pointedly. 'We are talking about something serious here.' She then turned to the large group of reporters huddled around her just off the Senate floor and made her point again. 'I just want to be clear to all of you,' Sinema said. 'Total waste of a question. OK? I’m here to talk about substance.'"
The most likely candidates in the race beside Sinema are Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego, and Republican former local news anchor Kari Lake, who ran unsuccessfully for governor of Arizona in 2022 and never conceded her loss.